Background: This cross-sectional study aims to assess whether there are differences in staff job satisfaction, including organizational and individual characteristics, between three residential models for adults with intellectual disabilities (small residential home, group home and institution) and to investigate the organizational and individual variables associated with staff job satisfaction. Methods: A standardized self-administered questionnaire (Job Satisfaction Survey) was distributed together with demographic questions between April 2007 and June 2007. In total, 1301 staff members completed the questionnaire. Results: We found that staff working at small homes had a significantly higher level of job satisfaction than staff from the other two models. Logistic regression revealed that the characteristics of the organizations at which they were employed rather than the staff's individual characteristics were strongly associated with job satisfaction. Conclusion: This study suggests that the residential model and the provider sector of the residential setting are the factors of concern when ensuring staff job satisfaction.